Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir review

Fun for compulsive screen-pokers

Pros

Enough variety to hook you

Somewhat witty plot

Requires outside-box thinking

Cons

Not a new idea

Some annoying puzzles

Dim on old-DS model

The ‘seek and solve’ genre is a big deal on the internet, and Nintendo have picked up on its casual-gamer-friendliness with this Touch Generations title. You’re presented with a picture of a densely packed room and a list of objects to find. Find the objects to move onto the next room.

MillionHeir’s screen-poking is held together by a witty-ish plot involving the disappearance of wealthy bloke Phil T. Rich. Your detective work mostly involves finding random items, but rounds are punctuated by other sorts of puzzles, which stops boredom setting in. Jigsaws, slidey-tile puzzles, spot the differences – all simple enough but never outstaying their welcome (well, apart from spot the difference, which always has at least one stupidly obscure difference).

A degree of lateral thought is required as well, as some objects need to be manipulated (cut in half, smashed, opened) and others have cryptic descriptions. There’s a bit of mic-based fun too, as you blow out fires to get to things hidden behind the flames. For such a simple idea this is oddly compulsive, but beware: the old DS’s dark-o-matic screen makes finding things trickier than it should be. Get a Lite, man.

Oct 9, 2008

More Info

Genre

Other Games/Compilations

Description

This DS release strings together many "cute" sight based puzzles that are good in an inoffensive way.